We are currently recruiting a Switzerland-based International Sales Partner Manager for our client. This role presents an excellent opportunity for a motivated, energetic self-starter with strong technical acumen and a proven track record in partner and channel sales.
Company Profile
Our client is a long-established, family-owned European industrial machinery manufacturer with a global footprint and approx. 700 employees worldwide. The company is recognized for engineering excellence, durable machinery, automated material-handling solutions, and a strong commitment to innovation and customer service.
The organization serves customers in a wide range of industries such as aerospace, automotive, steel distribution, and general industrial sectors. The culture is people-oriented, loyal, and craftsmanship-driven, with many long-tenured employees and a strong emphasis on quality and long-term relationships.
Position Summary
The International Sales Partner Manager is a newly created strategic role responsible for the global management, optimization, and expansion of the company’s external sales partner and representative network. Reporting directly to Executive Management, the role provides independent oversight across all international representation markets and drives the strategic realignment of the partner landscape.
The core responsibility of this role is to assess the current partner landscape, renegotiate or replace underperforming partners, and identify new, high-potential partnerships. Ensuring consistent performance, accountability, and alignment with the company’s commercial priorities is essential. While the role works highly independently, it remains closely connected to company leadership and the sales organization to maintain strategic alignment.
This role requires a strong communicator with a solid commercial background and technical understanding who can evaluate partner performance and take necessary action to adjust the partner network as needed.
Main Responsibilities
- Full ownership of the global sales partner and representative network across Europe, Asia, and other strategic markets
- Evaluate partner performance, capabilities, technical understanding, market positioning, and customer engagement
- Identify, select, negotiate, and onboard new international sales partners in priority regions
- Renegotiate or revise contracts, including exclusivity, performance expectations, termination clauses, and reporting structures
- Define KPIs, business plans, partner targets, and transparent commercial frameworks
- Train partners to actively develop the market, generate leads, conduct customer reporting, and participate in local marketing and trade fairs
- Coordinate technical onboarding together with internal specialists; ensure partners can independently manage standard inquiries
- Conduct regular partner visits to assess capabilities, review performance, drive improvements, and strengthen relationships
- Serve as the central interface between external partners and internal functions such as Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Service, and Engineering
- Manage conflicts or escalations in a structured and transparent manner
- Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations directly to Executive Management
Candidate Profile
- Degree in Mechanical/ Industrial Engineering, or comparable education
- Minimum 10 years of B2B commercial experience, ideally with responsibility for international distributors, agents, or channel partners
- Background in machinery- or component manufacturing, automation, industrial equipment, or other technically oriented B2B sectors
- Strong commercial mindset with the ability to understand technical products and evaluate partner competence
- Experience in building, restructuring, or professionalizing global partner networks
- High degree of independence, assertiveness, and decision-making strength
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to handle sensitive relationship dynamics diplomatically but firmly
- Business-fluent German and English; additional languages are a plus
- Willingness to travel internationally (~50%)